Details
Alexander was 43 years old, and a major in the 119th Bty, Royal Field Artillery, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 24 August 1914 during the action of Elouges, Belgium, when the flank guard was attacked by a German corps, Major Alexander handled his battery against overwhelming odds with such conspicuous success that all his guns were saved notwithstanding that they had to be withdrawn by hand by himself and volunteers led by a Captain (Francis Octavus Grenfell) of the 9th Lancers. This enabled the retirement of the 5th Division to be carried out without serious loss. Subsequently, Major Alexander rescued a wounded man under heavy fire.
He later achieved the rank of major general. His medal group is on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum, London. He has a headstone in Putney Vale Cemetery.
Read more about this topic: Ernest Wright Alexander
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